Textile goods dyeing apparatus with vapor cover



'Marcb $1910 mum; 3,498,092

TEXTILE GOODS DYEING APPARATUS WITH COVER ,ifile i June 7, 1968 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 2 I Tl-bMAs BERRY and FRANK E. PEACOCK AITORNEYS United States Patent 3,498,092 TEXTILE GOODS DYEING APPARATUS WITH VAPOR COVER Thomas Berry and Frank R. Peacock, Rome, Ga., as-

signors to Rome Machine & Foundry Company, Rome,

Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed June 7, 1968, Ser. No. 735,254 Int. Cl. D06f 13/00, 17/08 U.S. Cl. 68210 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE It has previously been proposed that dyeing apparatus for textile goods may be constructed with a foraminated basket positionable within an open top vat for receiving therewithin textile goods to be dyed. One such apparatus is shown and described in United States Patent No. 3,347,- 067 granted on Oct. 17, 1967, and owned in common with the present invention. In that apparatus, a part-cylindrical vat is filled to a suitable level with textile dye or other treatment liquid. Thereafter, textile goods are introduced into the foraminated basket over the back wall thereof, dyed Within the dyeing apparatus, and dumped from the apparatus by raising the foraminated basket to an elevated position relative to the stationary vat. In the operation of apparatus of this general type, the open top vat facilitates loading of goods over the back wall of the foraminated basket and unloading of goods over the forward wall of the foraminated basket, but creates problems with retention of dye liquor and dye liquor vapor. More specifically, the open top of the vat permits splashing of liquid dye liquid and ready escape of vapor from the dye liquor into the ambient atmosphere of a dye house where the dye operations are taking place. While such splashing of dye liquor and escape of dye liquor vapor present no major problems in some instances, certain substances chosen for textile dyeing are corrosive or otherwise dangerous and may have adverse effects on the dye house attendants should the concentration of the vapor reach certain levels. In such instances, it becomes highly important to protect the dye house attendants and the dye house equipment against the splashing of dye liquor or the escape of vapor.

Protection against splashing of dye liquor from a dyeing apparatus and retention of dye liquor vapor within the dyeing apparatus are readily accomplished with certain types of specialized dyeing apparatus, well known in the textile industry but not described or shown herein. However, such types of dyeing apparatus are not adaptable to loading from the rear and unloading forwardly of textile goods as envisioned in the above mentioned United States patent and thus are not adaptable to a straight through flow arrangement for goods moving through a dye house. In fact, the means employed with other textile dyeing apparatus for guarding against splashing of dye liquor or the escape of dye liquor vapor may not satisfactorily be adapted to a lifting basket apparatus of the type disclosed in the abovementioned patent while retaining the lifting basket feature which is otherwise found so favorable.

With the above discussion in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved dyeing apparatus for textile goods, which apparatus is adapted to retain within the apparatus itself the dye liquor 3,498,092 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 used in the dyeing process and vapors thereof, while facilitating the ready loading of undyed textile goods into one side of the apparatus and ready unloading thereof from the other side of the apparatus after dyeing of the goods is terminated. In realizing this object of the present invention, a dyeing apparatus is contemplated wherein an open top vat adapted to contain a dye liquor normally receives therewithin a foraminated basket adapted to contain the goods to be dyed. The basket and vat are secured together adjacent the upper extremity of the front walls thereof, in such a manner that the basket may move pivotally relative to the open top vat over a range of positions from a normal position disposed within the vat to an extended position outside of and above the vat. Dye liquor and vapor are retained within the apparatus by the cooperation of cover means supported on and movable with the foraminated basket and the vat structure and adapted to extend over the open top of the vat.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide, in a textile goods dyeing apparatus of the paddle type, a pair of door members respectively cooperating with the front and rear walls of a foraminated basket mounted for pivotal movement relative to an open top vat and means for controllably positioning the front and rear doors to permit opening the rear door only for loading of undyed textile goods into the dyeing apparatus from one side thereof and, subsequent to termination of the dyeing process, opening the front door in order to permit unloading of textile goods from the other side of the apparatus. In realizing this object of the present invention, it is preferable to provide door members which are substantially planar and are mounted for linear translational movement between raised and lowered positions. Further, fluid pressure actuated devices such as cylinders having extensible piston rods may be mounted for controlling movement of the door members and so arranged as to assure protection of the extensible piston rods against contact with the dye liquor vapor during loading and unloading of the apparatus.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevation view, in section, of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, taken generally along the line 22 in that figure;

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevation view, in section, of a door member and supporting structure therefor included in the apparatus of FIGURE 1, taken generally along the line 33 in that figure.

FIGURE 4 is a view somewhat similar to FIGURE 3, showing the mounting arrangement for a fiuid pressure actuating device and taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5' is a partially schematic view of a fluid pressure circuit for providing control over movement of the door members of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a textile goods dyeing apparatus, indicated generally at 10, is shown which is adapted for the dyeing of textile goods, and which is similar to certain apparatus which has been known heretofore, such as that shown in aforementioned United States Patent No. 3,347,067. Reference to the aforementioned United States patent is incorporated herein solely for purposes of assisting readers of this specification in gaining an understanding of the present invention, without intent to limit the present invention thereby, and it must be understood at the outset that an apparatus incorporating the cover means herein described and claimed can vary from the apparatus disclosed in that patent.

In the illustrated form, the dyeing apparatus of the present invention includes a vat 11, which is adapted to contain a dye liquor or other liquid media with which textile goods are to be treated, and includes a front wall 12 and a back wall 13. Preferably, the vat 11 has a generally half cylindrical configuration, and is supported by a base including side standards 14 and 15. Dye liquor may be introduced into the vat 11 through a dye pipe (not visible in FIGURE 1) and drained from the vat through a drain pipe 16 under the control of a drain valve 17, upon the completion of treatment of textile goods.

A foraminated basket, indicated generally at 20, is provided for containing the goods to be treated in the dyeing apparatus. The basket 20 is preferably of a shape substantially conforming to the interior configuration of the vat 11, and has a front wall 21 and a back wall 22. The basket 20 is pivotally connected to the vat 11, at the upper extremity of the front walls 12, 21 of the vat and basket. While this pivotal connection may be obtained in any desired manner, preferably a pair of bearing or journal plates 24 and 25 are positioned on opposite sides of the vat 11 and secured to the standards 14 and 15. A pintle rod 26 is secured to the upper extremity of the front wall 21 of the basket 20, and carried within the journal plates 24 and 25 to define an axis for pivotal movement of the basket over a range of positions from a normal position within the vat 11 to an extended position outside of and above the vat 11. The basket 20 is foraminated, preferably throughout all wall surfaces, at least to a level equal to the height of the dye liquor within the vat 11 at the time dyeing is to take place. Thus, with the basket 20 in the normal, or lowered, position, the dye liquor contained within the vat 11 freely flows into the basket 20 to come into contact with textile goods contained therein.

In order to agitate textile goods contained within the basket 20 and thereby insure proper dyeing or fluid treatment of the goods, the dyeing apparatus of the present invention is provided with an agitator means and a drive means for moving the agitator means relative to the basket 20 for agitation of textile goods. Preferably,

the agitator means includes a plurality of paddles 28, which extend along the longitudinal axis of and are mounted about a shaft 29, for rotation therewith. The shaft 29 preferably is rotatably mounted on the upper portion of the basket 20, in suitable bearings, such as the bearing 30, to extend parallel to the front wall 21 of the basket 20. The power means for driving the shaft 29 and the paddles 28 in rotation may be any suitable means, such as an electric motor (not shown) and may drive the shaft through suitable reduction gear transmission or in any other appropriate manner.

In order to raise the basket 20 to selected positions, and thereby facilitate the unloading of dyed goods from the front side of the dyeing apparatus, the apparatus 10 preferably includes fluid pressure operable means operatively connected to the basket 20 for pushing the basket upwardly to desired positions ranging from the normal position for dyeing operations to an extended position in which goods are dumped from the basket 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the dyeing apparatus 10 includes two extensible hydraulic cylinder devices (only one being visible in FIGURE 1), disposed at opposite ends of the dyeing apparatus 10. The cylinder devices, including the device 31 visible in FIGURE 1, may be of substantially conventional construction including a cylinder, a piston moving within the cylinder, and a connecting or piston rod extensible relative to the cylinder upon application of fluid pressure to the piston within the cylinder. The ends of the cylinders and the connecting rods are pivotally connected to the basket 20 and to the side standards of the vat, by means of trunnion pin connections. By the suitable application of fluid pressure to the cylinder devices, the piston rods are extended to push the basket 20 upwardly from the dyeing position to an unloading position, or to draw the basket 20 downwardly from an unloading position to the dyeing position (as indicated by the arcuate arrow at the rear edge of the basket 20 in FIGURE 1).

In order to retain dye liquor and/ or vapor thereof within the apparatus 10 during the dyeing operation, while permitting free access to the basket 20 for loading and unloading of textile goods, the present invention contemplates the inclusion in the apparatus 10 of cover means for the vat 11, which cover means is mounted on and movable with the basket 20. In accordance with the present invention, the cover means extends over the otherwise open top of the vat 11 when the basket 20 is disposed in the normal position, and comprises individually movable front and rear doors, respectively mounted adjacent the front walls 12 and 21 of the vat and basket and the back walls 13 and 22 of the vat and basket. In the specific illustrated embodiment, each of the front and rear doors comprises a generally planar door member, indicated at 34 for the front door and 35 for the rear door. Each of the front and rear door members 34 and 35 is mounted on the basket 20 for linear translational movement between a lowered position wherein access to the basket 20 is blocked (as shown by the position of front door member 34 in FIGURE 2) and a raised position wherein access to the basket is opened (as shown by the position of the rear door member 35 in FIGURE 2) In order to assure that the door members 34 and 35 cooperate to retain dye liquor and/ or vapor thereof within the apparatus 10 when the door members are in the lowered positions, the cover means further comprises door sealing means for cooperating with the door members to cover the open top of the vat. The door sealing means includes a door sealing member 36 spanning the area between the lowered front and rear door members and a pair of generally trapezoidally-shaped end closure panels 38 and 39. Further, in order to support and guide the door members 34 and 35 in their linear translational movement, the cover means includes spaced apart upper and lower plate members 40, 41, 42 and 43 (FIGURES 3 and 4) which define therebetween guideways, trackways, or slideways receiving the side edge extremities of the generally planar door members 34 and 35. By cooperation of the various elements of the cover means with the vat, the otherwise open top of the vat is entirely covered and effectively substantially sealed against the escape of vapor, to retain dye liquor vapor within the apparatus 10.

While it is possible that the cooperation of the door members 34 and 35 with the door sealing means including the door sealing member 36 and ,the end closure panels 38 and 39 may result in a vapor tight seal being obtained, it is also recognized that a vapor tight seal is not in all instances required. More particularly, where it is necessary to guard only against the splashing of liquor from the open top vat, the provision of the vapor tight seal is not required. Accordingly, a certain looseness of fit may be tolerated in those instances, so long as the cover means is effective to prevent the splashing of liquid. However, it is additionally recognized that a vapor proof seal may be provided by the installation of suitable gaskets, if such is found appropriate or desirable in a specific instance.

While it is envisioned that the door members 34 and 35 may be moved by hand between the raised and lowered positions when required or in the instance of an apparatus of relatively small size, it is considered preferable to incorporate in the apparatus 10 door actuating means respectively operatively connected to the front and rear door members 34 or 35 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 4). Adtween the lowered and raised positions. One such means is shown in the illustrated embodiment, where a pair of pressure fluid actuable cylinder devices 45 and 46 are supported by a framework of the cover means and respectively operatively connected with the planar door members 34 and 35. More particularly, each of the cylinders 45 and 46 preferably is supported by a respective one of a pair of transverse frame bars 50 and 51. By suitable bolted connections to the spaced plate members 40, 41, 42 and 43, the transverse bars are maintained in appropriate position for alignment of a respective cylinder with the path of movement of the respective one of the door members 34 or 35 (FIGURES 1, 2 and 4). Adjacent the lower extremity of the planar door members 34 and 35 are provided transverse lifting bar members 52 and 53, secured to the door members by appropriate brackets (FIGURES l and 3), and each operatively connected to one end of piston rods 47, 48, respectively movable within the cylinders 45, 46.

Inasmuch as the dye liquors used in dyeing textile goods are frequently of a corrosive nature, and as the ambient atmosphere about the apparatus 10 may include vapors of such corrosive dyeing liquors, particularly when the covers 34 and 35 are raised to the open position, precautions are taken to protect the door actuating means from corrosive effects to the greatest extent possible. More particularly, the arrangement of cylinders 45 and 46 so that the door members 34 and 35 are moved to the closed position upon extension of the connecting rods 47 and 48 from the cylinders results in retraction of the connecting rods so that the same are housed within the respective cylinders at the time that the doors are opened and dye liquor vapor would otherwise come in contact with the piston rods.

In order to provide for a particular coordination over movement of the door members 34 and 35, this invention preferably provides a control system functioning to govern the admission of pressure fluid to the door actuating means and cylinders 45 and 46. Actuating fluid under pressure may be provided from any suitable source (FIGURE such as an air compressor or a hydraulic pump. Such fluid is admitted to the cylinders 45 and 46 under the control of a pair of reversing valves 60 and 61. By movement of the spools Within the valves 60 and 61, pressure may be applied to either side of the pistons moving within the cylinders 45 and 46, while the opposing side of the piston is vented to the atmosphere or connected to a return pump. In this manner, fluid under pressure from the source may be applied to extend or retract the piston or connecting rods 47, 48. Preferably, the valves 60 and 61 are electrical solenoid valves, operated under the control of a remote electrical switch control means. The remote electrical switch control means is operated in conjunction with the application of pressure fluid to the cylinders raising and lowering the basket 20, in order to coordinate the raising and lowering of the doors included in the cover means with the loading and unloading of textile goods to and from the apparatu 10. While it is preferred that only one door be opened at a time and an electrical interlock may be provided to normally assure such operation, the arrangement and mounting of the front and rear doors is such that they may be opened at the same time if required, as for cleaning of the apparatus.

In operation of the apparatus 10, the basket 20 is lowered to the dyeing position within the vat 11 and dye liquor is admitted into the vat to reach the desired level for the dyeing operation. Thereafter, the rear door member 35 is moved to the raised position by retraction of the cylinder rod 48 into the cylinder 46, and textile goods to be dyed are introduced over the back Walls 13, 22 of the vat 11 and basket 20, to be submerged in the dye liquir and agitated by the paddles 28 as the paddles are driven in rotation. Immediately after the introduction of the textile goods ino the basket 20, and prior to beginning agitation of the textile goods with the paddles 28, the rear door member 35 is moved to the lowered position, to block the escape of the dye liquor vapor from the apparatus 10. The dyeing operation then proceeds in any desired manner. Thereafter, when dyeing is completed, the front door member 34 is moved to the raised position by the application of fluid pressure to the cylinder 45 to withdraw the piston rod 47 thereinto and the basket 20 is then lifted to an intermediate position so as to permit draining of excess dye liquor from the goods contained within the basket. Upon completion of draining, the basket 20 is then pushed upwardly to the extended position and the dyed goods thereby dumped from the basket 20 through the open cover means and into a truck or carrier positioned at the forward side of the dyeing apparatus.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosed textile paddle dyeing apparatus adapted to be readily loaded with undyed textile goods from one side and unloaded from the other side after dyeing of the goods is terminated, said apparatus comprising:

an open top vat adapted to contain a dye liquor and having front and back Walls,

a foraminated basket adapted to contain the goods and having front and back walls, said basket having a shape substantially conforming to the interior configuration of said vat and being pivotally connected at the upper extremity of its front Wall to the upper extremity of the front wall of said vat for pivotal movement of said basket over a range of positions from a normal position within said vat to an extended position outside and above said vat,

cover means for said vat carried by and movable with said basket, said cover means extending over the open top of said vat when said basket is disposed in said normal position and comprising a front door and a rear door respectively mounted adjacent said front and back walls of said basket, said doors being individually movable for respectively gaining access to the front of said basket for unloading of dyed goods therefrom and to the rear of said basket for loading goods to be dyed thereinto,

paddle means rotatably mounted on the upper portion of said basket for agitating goods contained therein during dyeing,

drive means operatively connected to said paddle means for driving the same in rotation during the dyeing of goods, and

basket elevating means operatively connected to said basket for pivotally moving the same over said range of positions.

2. A textile paddle dyeing apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein each of said front and rear doors comprises a generally planar door member mounted for linear translational movement between a lowered position wherein access to said basket is blocked and a raised position wherein access to said basket is opened, said door members when in said lowered positions cooperating to retain dye liquor and Vapor within said apparatus.

3. A textile paddle dyeing apparatus according to claim 2 and further wherein said cover means comprises a door sealing member spanning the area between said front and rear door members for sealing said cover means against the escape of dye liquor and vapor While both of said door members are in said lowered position.

4. A textile paddle dyeing apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising front door and rear door actuating means respectively operatively connected to said front and rear doors and remotely actuable for moving said doors between lowered positions wherein escape of dye liquor vapor is precluded and raised positions wherein access to said basket is gained.

5. A textile paddle dyeing apparatus according to claim 4 and wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of pressure fluid operated cylinder devices each having an extensible rod member operatively connected to a respective one of said doors, said cylinder devices being ar-' ranged relative to said doors in such a manner that said rod members are withdrawn into said cylinder devices when said doors are disposed in said raised position and thereby protected against prolonged exposure to dye liquor vapor.

6. An enclosed textile dyeing apparatus adapted to be readily loaded with undyed textile goods from one side and unloaded from the other side after dyeing of the goods is terminated, said apparatus comprising:

an open top vat adapted to contain a dye liquor and having front and back walls,

a foraminated basket adapted to contain the goods and having front and back walls, said basket being pivotally connected at the upper extremity of its front wall to the upper extremity of the front wall of said vat for pivotal movement of said basket over a range of positions from a normal position within said vat to an extended position outside and above said vat,

agitator means mounted on said basket for movement therewith relative to said vat and for movement relative to said basket for agitating goods contained therein during dyeing,

drive means operatively connected to said agitator means for driving the same in movement relative to said basket during the dyeing of goods,

basket elevating means operatively connected to said basket for pivotally moving the same over said range of positions,

cover means including a pair of generally planar door members and cooperating panel members mounted 8 on said basket for movement therewith relative to said vat, one of said door members being supported for translational movement between a lowered position immediately adjacent said rear wall of said basket and a raised position wherein access to said basket over said rear Wall is opened and the other of said door members being similarly supported for translational movement between a lowered position immediately adjacent said front wall of said basket and a raised position wherein egress from said basket over said front wall is opened, said panel members cooperating with said door members to cover the open top of said vat when said basket is disposed in said normal position and said door members are disposed in said lowered positions, and means for controllably moving said door members between said lowered and raised positions,

whereby undyed goods may be loaded into said basket while said one door member is raised, dyed there-t within, and dumped over said front wall of said basket upon raising of said other door member and elevation of said basket.

References Cited UNITED STATES' PATENTS 1,400,977 12/1921 Perry 68-210 1,716,264 6/1929 Drum et a1. 68210 2,986,918 6/1961 'Widigen 68-210 3,347,067 10/1967 Berry 68210 WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 68196 050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,4 8, 092 D d March 3, 1970 Inventor(s) Thomas Berry and Frank R. Peacock It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, Line 42, "liquid" should be liquor Column 4, Lines 71 and 72,"door members 34 or 35 (Figures 1, 2 and 4). Adtween" should be doors and remotely actuable for moving the doors between Column 5, Line 69, "liquir" should be liquor SIGNED A'ND SEALED JUL14I970 Arrest:

Edward M. Fletcher, In

Attesting Officer wmxm E. sum. 3 Gomissioner or Pam 

